Detroit Pistons Secure Ausar Thompson With Huge New Extension

Pistons Lock Up Defensive Star

The Detroit Pistons have secured one of their key young players for the long term. Forward Ausar Thompson has agreed to a five year, $155 million rookie scale contract extension. The deal is fully guaranteed.

Thompson is coming off a stellar season where he made first team All Defense. The 23 year old also finished third in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year. He has quickly established himself as one of the premier defenders in the league since being drafted fifth overall in 2023.

Dominating the Defensive End

Last season, Thompson averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. He made his biggest impact on defense, leading the NBA with 2.0 steals per game. He also averaged 0.9 blocks.

Thompson finished the year with 215 combined steals and blocks, which was the third highest mark in the league. Since entering the NBA, he is one of only three players to record at least 300 steals and 150 blocks.

He carried that defensive force into the postseason. During Detroit's run to the Eastern Conference semifinals, he averaged 8.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1.8 blocks. He became the first player to record at least 25 steals and 25 blocks in a single postseason since Anthony Davis did it in 2020.

Making NBA History

The extension also marks a historic moment for Thompson and his family. His twin brother, Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets, recently signed a five year, $208 million extension of his own.

With these deals, they are the first pair of brothers in NBA history to each sign contracts worth at least $100 million. Combined, the twins secured $363 million this offseason.

This major contract comes after Thompson overcame a serious health scare. His sophomore season was cut short in March 2024 when he was diagnosed with a blood clot. He spent eight months sidelined before being cleared by the NBA's fitness to play panel to return to the court.

Negotiations Continue in Detroit

Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has been busy handling multiple negotiations. Along with locking up Thompson, Langdon has been in talks with restricted free agent Jalen Duren.

Detroit has been in active contract talks with Duren since June. The team has offered a deal in the range of $190-plus million. However, the two sides remain apart. The Pistons believe their offer is fair, while Duren is looking for a larger contract.